No Compromise: The BMW X6 is the SUV for people who really want a sports car

There are some people who drive SUVs for the love of them, and some who drive SUVs because they must.

And while the BMW X6, which debuted last year, is an all-around pleasing SUV, it is one of the rare ones that can make the latter group happy. These are the people whose first preference is to buy a sports car, a coupe, or maybe even just a car, but because of family and/or cargo carrying demands, need to buy an SUV.

Recognizing that desire, BMW debuted its first SUV, the X5, on a racetrack. From the very beginning, Bimmer made it very clear that it was not going to compromise its dynamic driving reputation just because people needed an extra row of seats or a covered cargo area.

Now enter the X6, which has pushed things to the next level. For one thing, it doesn’t even look like an SUV. Though it is based on the X5, at first glance, you’d never know it – and you might not even take it as a crossover, usually the first step away from SUV-ness. BMW calls the X6 a "sports activity coupe," in spite of its four doors and hatch, and you might be forgiven for thinking it truly is a coupe, thanks to its low-slung stance, its sloping roofline, its curving lines, its bulging muscles and its overall in-your-face look. The X6 is one macho machine, in a totally non-SUV way, and make no mistake about it.

So the X6 delivers a lot on first impression. The question is: Can the X6’s performance live up to its look?

You betcha.

Under The Hood

There are two X6 models: the xDrive 50i, which is equipped with a 400-horsepower twin turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 and the one I drove, the xDrive35i, which is powered by another twin turbocharged engine, a 300-horsepower 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with 300 pound-feet of torque.

And though I would also like to experience the V8, let me say right up front I was not shortchanged at all by the inline 6. Far from it. It’s the same acclaimed engine found in the 335i and 135i, and I quickly found out that it moves the xDrive35i from 0 to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds. Or 6.5 to be exact.

Even more interesting? In some tests, that inline 6 has brought the xDrive35i in even faster. I love it when something more is delivered than what was actually promised. Surpassed expectations are the best. Think of it like having your house contractor or plumber finish a job early. Cha-ching.

What’s more, turbo lag is minimal with this engine, a credit to the X6’s engineering and its silky smooth 6-speed automatic transmission, which also allows for manual shifts. EPA ratings are 15 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway.

Moving About

Still, what I always love most about BMWs is the way they handle. And given that this vehicle is still basically an SUV, you may be wondering how it fares in that department.

Don’t worry. The X6 is busting at the seams with a wealth of technology designed not only to live up to BMW’s dynamic reputation, but enhance it. For one thing, the company has equipped the X6 with its Integrated Chassis Management, which reads feedback from sensors in a number of systems to electronically control drivetrain and suspension responses. Those include the all-wheel-drive xDrive and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) systems. It also includes BMW’s new Dynamic Performance Control (DPC), an innovative feature that distributes torque to the rear wheels via an active rear differential, which can shift torque from side to side, as well as work during both braking and acceleration. DPC takes the upper hand too when it comes to this sort of control, with the DSC only kicking in if things get completely out of hand. It is so innovative, and such a novel way of thinking about this kind of control, that critics are practically drooling at the mouth to see DPC on future BMWs.

In short, DPC, along with the other systems, provides more control and more traction – enough so that it will probably even lead the driver to believe he or she is a better driver than they really are. And when you experience the X6’s cornering ability, its well-weighted steering, its highly effective brakes and the gripping power of its tires, you will be tempted to push it. You’ll certainly forget that it is an SUV.

My only gripe is that the test car didn’t have the optional Sport package, which among other things, features electronic damping control (EDC), adaptive drive and 20-inch tires. Everyone who has tested a so-equipped X6 has done nothing but rave about it.

Insider Information

Unlike the X5, the X6 seats four. But it seats those four very well, with even tall people feeling that there was adequate room in the rear. I did notice the rear door opening is somewhat constrained by the vehicle’s design, but once in, people will find the space – and the seat – comfortably composed.

There’s 25.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the 60/40 split rear seat. Fold those down and that figure jumps to almost 60 cubic feet.And though BMW interiors all tend to have a techy look, over the years they have become mOther notes? The X6 featured an optional $1,200 heads-up display I actually found useful, while the lines of the vehicle can restrict rearview visibility. And the price on this 2009 BMW X6 xDrive35i, aka "sports activity coupe," was $55,900, not counting options such as a $2,000 technology package with navigation and a rearview camera. It’s not chump change for sure, but as a sports car and SUV, remember you are getting two vehicles in one.ore elegant looking, with this one looking, not surprisingly, a lot like the X5. (One notable exception: knee pads for those up front.) And I really liked the stitched "Saddle Brown Nevada Leather" seats in my X6, which also attractively complemented the color in the vehicle’s ash grain trim.